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10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Lockheed KC-130H Hercules: Chris Lofting· GFDL 1.2
- 2. Griffin missile launcher installed on loading ramp of a KC-130J: Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki· Public domain
- 3. Harvest Hawk KC-130J with Hellfire: Cpl Samantha H. Arrington· Public domain
- 4. KC-130F VMGR-152 landing at Dong Ha 1967: Pfc. Kenneth L. Fuller, USMC· Public domain
- 5. KC-130J-VMGR-352-20070205: LCpl Kelly R. Chase, USMC· Public domain
- 6. KC-130J Harvest Hawk mission markers Afghanistan 2011: Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington, USMC· Public domain
- 7. KC-130R VMGR-252 refueling Harriers 1978: Sgt. Cordova, USMC· Public domain
- 8. Lockheed KC-130T of VMGR-452 at RIAT 1993: Petebutt· Public domain
- 9. US Navy 030130-M-0000X-001 Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772 (HMM-772) receive fuel from a KC-130 Hercules: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald.· Public domain
- 10. US Navy 070205-M-3968C-119 Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft, assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, stagger themselves during a refueling training exercise off the coast of Southern California: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelly R. Chase· Public domain
what is it?
The Lockheed Martin (previously Lockheed) KC-130 is a family of the extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The KC-130J is the latest variant operated by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), with 74 delivered out of 83 ordered as of 31 December 2023. It replaced older KC-130F, KC-130R, and KC-130T variants for aerial refueling.
How to recognise it: 4 turboprops · 40.4 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 66 years ago, in 1960.
- Top speed is 5.2× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Wingspan of 40.4 m: about 9 cars parked nose to tail.
- Fully loaded it can weigh as much as 13 African elephants (~6 t each).
- Range of 5,250 km: 29× Amsterdam to Brussels.
turboprop: A jet-style turbine turning a propeller: efficient on short hops.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1960-01
- introduced
- 1962
- retired
- 2006
- status
- still flying
- number built
- 130
- role
- lockheed c-130 hercules
- origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- makers
- Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Martin
- engines
- 4× Allison T56 and Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3
- crew
- 4
- passengers
- 92
- length
- 29.8 m
- wingspan
- 40.4 m
- height
- 11.8 m
- max take-off weight
- 79.4 t
- top speed
- 670 km/h
- cruise speed
- 644 km/h
- range
- 5,250 km
- ceiling
- 8,534 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
family
Sources: Wikidata Q1867545, Wikipedia: Lockheed Martin KC-130 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.